Thomas Walker had plans for a family business.As service manager at a pool repair store in Monmouth County, his dream was to take over the business allowing his employer to retire and the Walkers to work together, his mother said.
Instead, Walker died during a trip to Atlantic City in 2014. He died Nov. 15, 2014, two weeks after he was knocked unconscious by Matthew Piazza inside a casino hotel.Piazza was sentenced to five years' probation last week as part of a plea deal, in which he admitted to endangering an injured victim.
The Manalapan man originally faced 10 years in prison for second-degree reckless manslaughter, but pleaded guilty Jan. 7, the day before his trial was set to begin. He admitted that he rendered Walker unconscious on the fourth floor of the hotel inside Harrah's Atlantic City.He said he and another friend then tried to carry Walker to their room. Piazza’s defense was expected to possibly argue self-defense or defense of others at trial, according to information released during the plea.Under the plea agreement, Piazza was sentenced as a third-degree offender, which faces a sentencing term of three to five years.But prison time is not presumed for those without a criminal record, like Piazza."The law is the law," said a tearful Carol Walker, after the sentencing.No time would have been enough, James Walker said of losing his only son."My son was the best son anyone could have," he said. "My son would do anything for anyone he met. He was known for his loyalty to his friends and his loyalty to his family."
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A Monmouth County man pleaded guilty Tuesday, a day before he was set to go to trial for manslaughter. Matthew Piazza faced 10 years in prison if convicted in the killing of Thomas Walker, who died Nov. 15, 2014 — two weeks after he was knocked unconscious by Piazza.
Instead, Piazza pleaded guilty Tuesday to endangering an injured victim. Piazza, 29, admitted he rendered Walker, 27, unconscious on the fourth floor of the hotel at Harrah’s Atlantic City.
He and a friend then tried to carry Walker to their room.
Both the family of the victim and the prosecutor agreed to the plea, the prosecutor in the case told the judge.
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